Editor’s Desk: Violation of trust over police access to COVID QR code system threatens contact tracing

We all hate being lied to.

Whether it’s a flat-out fib to your face or an omission of the truth, it stings.

Granted, coming from the lips of a politician is less of a shocker than it would be from a trusted friend or a partner.

But even from our pollies, you expect some level of openness about issues of public health, especially in a state of emergency.

Trust, once broken, is hard to rebuild, particularly in the cutthroat world of politics.

People expect politicians to lie, unless proven otherwise.

A serious violation of trust and it’s virtually mission impossible to get the public back onside.

In the case of revelations this week about the WA Police Force accessing data about the public’s movements via the supposedly confidential SafeWA check-in app for two serious investigations — including the execution-style murder of Rebels bikie boss Nick Martin at Kwinana Motorplex — it remains to be seen how much damage it has done or will do to brand McGowan.

The Premier admits he has known about it since April.

Plain and simple, he should have let us know straight away.

I don’t have a problem at all with the police using the QR code system as an investigative tool. If you’ve got nothing to hide, you shouldn’t either. It’s the issue of being kept in the dark that is the problem here.

People check in on Facebook and Instagram all the time.

Geo-location tracking is an ever-increasing thing. I really don’t care who knows which supermarkets or cafes or shops I go into. But on the other hand, I also value my privacy.

However, I think we all need to take a deep breath. It’s not like the police sold our details to the highest corporate bidder and now we’re getting inundated with hundreds of telemarketing calls and emails every week.

McGowan and Co are now desperately trying to close the loophole. But should it be closed? Perhaps not. We all know Big Brother is already watching in so many aspects of our lives. Now we know about the police’s currently lawful access to this system, wouldn’t it be a small sacrifice to make, as long as it wasn’t abused or overused, if it meant helping solve a serious crime?

Will this change my mind about using the SafeWA app?

No way. But do I have concerns it will be a reason, or an excuse, for more people not to use it? Yes, definitely. And if that happens, we will all suffer.

I really don’t care who knows which supermarkets or cafes or shops I go into. But on the other hand, I also value my privacy. However, I think we all need to take a deep breath.

Even though it’s mandatory, you still see all the time people who walk right past the QR codes and either deliberately don’t check in or forget. I hope not, but this could become even more commonplace.

The real worry I have is when we really need it, our contact tracing system won’t be widespread or effective enough.

That would be a tragedy, in a time when we are already trying to overcome vaccine “hesitancy” and figure out a better solution than hotel quarantine. The combined response and failings in the fight against COVID — the one issue which set the McGowan popularity train in motion — could end up causing irretrievable damage.